Method and kit for providing a customizable nail-biting finger-sucking prevention treatment

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method of customizing a nail-biting and/or finger sucking treatment solution, and a kit for providing a nail-biting and finger sucking treatment that is customizable for a wide range of afflicted users seeking to break a persistent nail-biting and/or finger sucking habit. In exemplary embodiments, the composition kit includes two separate containers, a first container having a nail growth-promoting, waterproofing composition that may be applied directly on a user&#39;s nails; and a second container may include an additive for customizing a bitterness factor of the first composition. Typically, the first container includes an applicator such as a brush. To facilitate adding the additive in a manner that is easily customizable, the second container may include a dropper for adding small doses of the additive composition to the first composition. The customizable kit allows the user to safely adjust the bitterness so that the treatment remains effective.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.62/681,184, filed Jun. 6, 2018, the entire contents of which are herebyfully incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of habit breaking.More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a method forproviding a customizable nail-biting and/or finger sucking preventiontreatment, and kit for providing a nail-biting and/or finger suckingtreatment that is customizable for a wide range of afflicted usersseeking to break a persistent nail-biting and/or finger sucking habit.

COPYRIGHT AND TRADEMARK NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent application may containmaterial that is subject to copyright protection. The owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightswhatsoever. Certain marks referenced herein may be common law orregistered trademarks of third parties affiliated or unaffiliated withthe applicant or the assignee. Use of these marks is by way of exampleand should not be construed as descriptive or to limit the scope of thisinvention to material associated only with such marks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Nail biting, or onychophagia, is a nervous affliction or neurosis inwhich a free edge of the fingernails is bitten. Onychophagia, oronychophagy, is considered a pathological oral habit and groomingdisorder characterized by chronic, seemingly uncontrollable nail bitingthat is destructive to fingernails and the surrounding tissue includingcuticles and fingers. Along with other body-focused repetitive behaviors(BFRBs), onychophagia is classified in the DSM-5 as an “Other SpecifiedObsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorder.” Professional treatment, whennecessary, focuses on both the physical and psychological factorsinvolved in nail biting. It is sometimes described as a parafunctionalactivity—the common use of the mouth for an activity other thanspeaking, eating, or drinking. Nail biting usually leads to harmfuleffects to the fingers including, for example, infections. Theseconsequences are directly derived from the physical damage of biting orfrom the hands becoming an infection vector. Moreover, the afflictionoften has a negative social impact.

In addition to nail biting, finger sucking is another common problem,which typically manifests (e.g., thumb sucking). Thumb sucking is anatural reflex for children, and sucking on thumbs, fingers, pacifiersor other objects may make babies feel secure and happy and help themlearn about their world. Young children may also suck to soothethemselves and help them fall asleep. However, after permanent teethcome in, sucking may cause problems with the proper growth of the mouthand alignment of the teeth. It can also cause changes in the roof of themouth. Pacifiers can affect the teeth essentially the same ways assucking fingers and thumbs, but it is often an easier habit to break.The intensity of the sucking is a factor that determines whether dentalproblems may result. Some aggressive thumb suckers may develop problemswith their baby/primary teeth as well.

Nail biting and/or finger sucking are most typically associated withearly adolescence and childhood and are generally outgrown or simplystopped when the child reaches a certain age. However, it is notuncommon that onychophagia and finger sucking to continue beyondadolescence. Symptoms are both psychological and physical. People whochronically bite their nails and suck fingers may experience:distressful feelings of unease or tension prior to biting/sucking;feelings of relief or even pleasure after biting/sucking; feelings ofshame, embarrassment, and guilt, often related to the appearance ofphysical damage to the skin and nails caused by the biting/sucking;mouth injuries, dental problems, abscesses, and infections; and, in somecases, onychophagia may lead to complicated family and socialrelationships. If such a habit continues much beyond early adolescence,it has an even higher potential to create several health problems, suchas tense neck muscles, headaches, and even dislocation of the jaw (TMJsyndrome). Thus, if unchecked, the otherwise innocuous habit of nailbiting and fingers sucking can become a serious health problem.

While the art contains several means for breaking a nail-biting and/orfinger sucking habit, such as coatings and coverings for thefingernails, and the like, none of these devices has been entirelysatisfactory or effective in preventing the serious problem of nailbiting and/or thumb sucking, which continues into adulthood.

Some devices, for example, include complex medical devices that areplaced in a user's mouth. These are undesirable because an afflictedindividual seeking treatment would be forced to carry the device withthem, or wear the device in public, which typically disrupts their dailysocial activities and often leads to the user avoiding or simply beingunable to utilize the device.

Other means for breaking a nail-biting and/or finger sucking habitinclude compositions that may be applied to the nail in order to preventa user from biting their nails and/or sucking their fingers. A problemwith these known compositions, however, is their reliance on thebitterness effect on the user. Because bitterness is a highly personalfactor, due to the fact that an individual's taste buds differ fordifferent ages, and different individuals in general, the results ofusing known nail-biting prevention solutions vary so much that suchknown compositions are unreliable for many individuals. The problemlargely persists because currently there are no solutions that arecustomizable to an afflicted user's taste buds.

Therefore, there is an unanticipated and inadequately addressed need foran improved nail-biting prevention treatment that is customizable for awide range of afflicted individuals seeking to break a persistentnail-biting and/or finger sucking habits. It is to these ends that thepresent invention has been developed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To minimize the limitations in the prior art, and to minimize otherlimitations that will be apparent upon reading and understanding thepresent specification, the present invention describes a method forproviding a customizable nail-biting prevention treatment, and a kit forproviding a nail-biting treatment that is customizable for a wide rangeof afflicted users seeking to break a persistent nail-biting habit.

Generally, a method of customizing a nail-biting and/or finger suckingtreatment solution, and a kit for providing a nail-biting and fingersucking treatment that is customizable for a wide range of afflictedusers seeking to break a persistent nail-biting and/or finger suckinghabit. In exemplary embodiments, the composition kit includes twoseparate containers, a first container having a first composition thatmay be applied directly on a user's nails; the second container mayinclude a second composition that may be used as an additive to thefirst composition, such that a bitterness of the first composition maybe adjusted by the additive added to the first composition. Typically,the first container includes an applicator such as a brush to facilitateapplying the mixture onto the user's nails. To facilitate adding theadditive in a manner that is easily customizable, the second containermay include a dropper for adding small doses of the additive compositionto the first composition. This approach allows the user to tailor themixture to their needs. Moreover, if a user's bitterness thresholdincreases, the customizable kit allows the user to safely increase thebitterness so that the treatment remains effective.

A method of customizing a nail-biting and/or finger sucking treatmentsolution, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention, may include the steps of: (a) obtaining a first solution witha first bitterness level; (b) obtaining a second solution with a secondbitterness level; and (c) adding at least a portion of the secondsolution to at least a portion of the first solution to form a combinedsolution with a third bitterness level, wherein the third bitternesslevel is greater than the first bitterness level.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first solution includes at least someof butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, denatonium benzoate, nitrocellulose,n-butyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and citric acid. In some exemplaryembodiments, the first solution includes the following concentrations:31% of the butyl acetate, 28% of the ethyl acetate, 15.2% of thedenatonium benzoate, 15% of the nitrocellulose, 6.8% of the n-butylalcohol, 3.5% of the isopropyl alcohol, and 0.5% of the citric acid.

In some exemplary embodiments, the second solution includes at leastsome of ethyl acetate and denatonium benzoate. In some exemplaryembodiments, the second solution includes the following concentrations:80% of the ethyl acetate, and 20% of the denatonium benzoate.

A nail-biting and finger sucking treatment kit, in accordance with someexemplary embodiments of the present invention, may include: a nailgrowth-promoting, waterproof composition housed in a first container,the nail growth-promoting, waterproof composition including: butylacetate, ethyl acetate, denatonium benzoate, nitrocellulose, n-butylalcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and citric acid; a bitterness additivehoused in a second container, the bitterness additive including: ethylacetate and denatonium benzoate; and a package enclosing the firstcontainer and the second container.

A nail growth-promoting, waterproof composition, in accordance with someexemplary embodiments of the present invention, may include: 31% of thebutyl acetate, 28% of the ethyl acetate, 15.2% of the denatoniumbenzoate, 15% of the nitrocellulose, 6.8% of the n-butyl alcohol, 3.5%of the isopropyl alcohol, and 0.5% of the citric acid.

A bitterness additive composition, in accordance with some exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, may include: 80% of ethyl acetate,and 20% of denatonium benzoate.

A method of preparing a customizable nail-biting and finger suckingtreatment kit, in accordance with practice of some exemplary embodimentsof the present invention, may include the steps of: preparing a nailgrowth-promoting composition by combining between 26%-37% butyl acetate,between 23%-32% ethyl acetate, between 10.2%-20.2% denatonium benzoate,between 10%-20% nitrocellulose, between 3.8%-9.8% n-butyl alcohol,between 2.5%-4.5% isopropyl alcohol, and between 0.39%-0.69% citricacid; storing the nail growth-promoting composition in a firstcontainer, the first container having a brush applicator; preparing abitterness additive by combining between 70%-90% ethyl acetate, andbetween 10%-30% denatonium benzoate; storing the bitterness additive ina second container; packaging the first container including the nailgrowth-promoting composition and the second container including thebitterness additive in a single package.

Various objectives and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration andexample, certain embodiments of this invention. The drawings submittedherewith constitute a part of this specification, include exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects andfeatures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The method for providing a customizable nail-biting and/or fingersucking prevention treatment and kit, as disclosed herein, are furtherdescribed in terms of exemplary embodiments. These exemplary embodimentsare described in detail with reference to the drawings, which have notnecessarily been drawn to scale in order to enhance their clarity andimprove understanding of the various embodiments of the invention.Furthermore, elements that are known to be common and well understood tothose in the industry are not depicted in order to provide a clear viewof the various embodiments of the invention. These embodiments arenon-limiting exemplary embodiments, in which like reference numeralsrepresent similar structures throughout the several views of thedrawings. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can bebriefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a kit in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a first composition container,including a brush applicator, in accordance with exemplary embodimentsof the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view a dropper that may be used toapply drops or small amounts of a bitterness additive to customize atreatment, in accordance with exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a table of ingredients for a first compositionincluded in a kit according to some exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a table of ingredients for a second compositionincluded in a kit according to some exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a flow chart depicting a method of customizing atreatment in accordance with practice of some exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart depicting a method of applying acustomized treatment in accordance with practice of some exemplaryembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following discussion that addresses a number of embodiments andapplications of the present invention, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings that form a part thereof, where depictions aremade, by way of illustration, of specific embodiments in which theinvention may be practiced. It is to be understood that otherembodiments may be utilized, and changes may be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention. Wherever possible, the same referencenumbers are used in the drawings and the following description to referto the same or similar elements.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth by way of examples in order to provide a thorough understanding ofthe relevant teachings. However, it should be apparent to those skilledin the art that the present teachings may be practiced without suchdetails. In other instances, well known compositions, structures,components and/or functional or structural relationship thereof, etc.,have been described at a relatively high-level, without detail, in orderto avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings.

Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meaningssuggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning.Likewise, the phrase “in one embodiment/example” as used herein does notnecessarily refer to the same embodiment and the phrase “in anotherembodiment/example” as used herein does not necessarily refer to adifferent embodiment. It is intended, for example, that claimed subjectmatter include combinations of example embodiments in whole or in part.

Conditional language used herein, such as, among others, “can,” “could,”“might,” “may,” “e.g.,” and the like, unless specifically statedotherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, isgenerally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, whileother embodiments do not include, certain features, elements and orsteps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended toimply that features, elements and or steps are in any way required forone or more embodiments, whether these features, elements and or stepsare included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.

The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like aresynonymous and are used inclusively, in an open-ended fashion, and donot exclude additional elements, features, acts, operations and soforth. Also, the term “or” is used in its inclusive sense (and not inits exclusive sense) so that when used, for example, to connect a listof elements, the term “or” means one, some, or all of the elements inthe list. Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y,and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understoodwith the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc.may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is notgenerally intended to imply that certain embodiments require at leastone of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z to each be present.The term “and or” means that “and” applies to some embodiments and “or”applies to some embodiments. Thus, A, B, and or C can be replaced withA, B, and C written in one sentence and A, B, or C written in anothersentence. A, B, and or C means that some embodiments can include A andB, some embodiments can include A and C, some embodiments can include Band C, some embodiments can only include A, some embodiments can includeonly B, some embodiments can include only C, and some embodimentsinclude A, B, and C. The term “and or” is used to avoid unnecessaryredundancy. Similarly, terms, such as “a, an,” or “the,” again, may beunderstood to convey a singular usage or to convey a plural usage,depending at least in part upon context. In addition, the term “basedon” may be understood as not necessarily intended to convey an exclusiveset of factors and may, instead, allow for existence of additionalfactors not necessarily expressly described, again, depending at leastin part on context.

While exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may be described,modifications, adaptations, and other implementations are possible. Forexample, substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to theelements illustrated in the drawings, and the methods described hereinmay be modified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to thedisclosed methods. Thus, nothing in the foregoing description isintended to imply that any particular feature, characteristic, step,module, or block is necessary or indispensable. Indeed, the novelmethods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety ofother forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changesin the form of the methods and systems described herein may be madewithout departing from the spirit of the invention or inventionsdisclosed herein. Accordingly, the following detailed description doesnot limit the disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure isdefined by the appended claims.

The present disclosure relates to, among other things, a method and kitfor providing a customizable nail-biting and/or finger suckingprevention treatment. Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosureare described with reference to the drawings for illustration purposesand are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

As mentioned above, with regard to individuals' taste buds, sensitivityto bitterness is highly personal and can change over time. Moreover,even to a single individual, their perception of tasting somethingbitter often changes throughout their lifetime, because thesensitivities of their taste buds may differ at different ages.Accordingly, current nail-biting and/or finger sucking solutions oftenfail because their bitterness levels may be too low and theircompositions cannot be customized. With this in mind, the presentinvention provides a system and method to tailor the bitterness factorof the nail biting and/or finger sucking treatment to each individual ofany age for which the customizable treatment may be safe to use.

As will be described in detail below, the present invention requires noequipment at all, and may be implemented by any individual on the spot.This customizable approach allows an afflicted individual to tailor thetreatment to their needs and avoid experimentation with differentproduct versions or types.

In general, a kit in accordance with the present invention may enablethe bitterness level of a nail-biting and/or finger sucking treatmentsolution to be increased to accommodate people with varying (e.g.,higher) thresholds for bitterness. To this end the kit may typicallyinclude 1) a base solution that may comprise a nail growth-promoting andwaterproofing composition, and that may also include a baseline level ofbitterness, and 2) a separate and distinct second bitterness solution(e.g., an additive solution) that may be added to the base solution toincrease the resultant overall solution's bitterness level. It may bepreferable that the additive solution include a sufficiently high levelof bitterness so that the addition of small amounts of the additivesolution to the base solution may increase the overall bitterness levelof the overall and combined solutions. In this way the bitternessadditive may be added to the nail growth-promoting, waterproofingcomposition one drop at a time, and the one or more drops of additionalbitterness solution may increase the repulsive bitter taste to a levelthat may stop the nail-biting and/or finger sucking habits of peoplewith higher bitterness thresholds.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of akit in accordance with the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 1depicts kit 100, which includes generally a nail growth-promoting,waterproofing composition 101 (e.g., the base solution) housed in afirst container, a bitterness additive 102 (e.g., the additive solution)housed in a second container, a dropper 103 generally configured to drawat least a drop of the bitterness additive 102 from the secondcontainer; and a package 104 that encloses or contains each of the nailgrowth-promoting, waterproofing composition 101 within the firstcontainer 101 and the bitterness additive 102 within the secondcontainer.

The nail growth-promoting waterproofing composition 101 may generallycomprise at least some of butyl acetate, ethyl acetate, denatoniumbenzoate, nitrocellulose, n-butyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and citricacid. The combined ingredients may result into a substance that may beapplied to a person's fingernails. The Butyl Acetate and Ethyl Acetatemay provide the liquid base for the nail growth-promoting compositionand may be primarily used as solvents to keep the nail growth-promotingcomposition thin, quick drying, and low in odor.

Denatonium is a bitter chemical compound, usually existing in the formof Denatonium Benzoate, that may have a bitterness threshold of 0.05 ppmfor the benzoate. In one exemplary embodiment hereof, the level ofDenatonium Benzoate included in the base solution 101 may provide abaseline bitterness level of the solution. As will be described infurther detail in other sections, this baseline level of bitterness maybe used as-is, and/or may be increased by adding portions of theadditive solution 102 to the base solution 101. Safe levels forconsumption in case of accidental human swallowing should be kept inmind when packaging or storing the solutions 101, 102 in respectivecontainers. In addition, as will be discussed further below, thebitterness additive 101 may also include this ingredient.

Nitrocellulose may be a main ingredient (cellulose nitrate) of the nailgrowth-promoting composition known for creating a film that holdstogether other substances. In the case of the nail growth-promotingcomposition, this ingredient may be used to create a film that mayprovide a thin membrane to allow at least a portion of the appliedDenatonium Benzoate to be contacted during licking, sucking or biting ofthe fingers and/or nails.

N-Butyl Alcohol is typically used primarily to dissolve other substancesin cosmetic product formulations, and in the present invention may beused as a thinner of the nail growth-promoting composition so that thecomposition may dry quickly. Similarly, Isopropyl Alcohol also promotesquicker drying when the composition is applied to a user's nail.

Citric Acid is a stabilizing agent produced from the fermentation ofsugar cane that may be used to control the color of the pigment of thebase and/or combined solutions. In the preset invention, Citric Acid maybe used to keep the nail growth-promoting composition clear ortranslucent.

The bitterness additive 102 may generally comprise at least some ofEthyl Acetate and Denatonium Benzoate. With respect to the bitternessadditive 102, the Ethyl Acetate may be used to keep the DenatoniumBenzoate in liquid form, since Denatonium Benzoate may usually exist incrystal form. Ethyl Acetate may also be used to allow the DenatoniumBenzoate to mix easily and blend with the nail growth-promoting,waterproofing composition 101 when the additive solution 102 may beadded to the base solution 101. However, Ethyl Acetate is highlyflammable and toxic when ingested, and can cause irritation when itcomes into contact with the eyes or skin. Accordingly, as will bedescribed in other sections, the levels of Ethyl Acetate and DenatoniumBenzoate included in the bitterness additive 102 must be specificallydesigned to maximize the bitterness concentration in the liquid formwhile minimizing the flammability and toxicity potential of thesolution.

Accordingly, in exemplary embodiments, a nail-biting and/or fingersucking treatment kit 100 may include a nail growth-promoting,waterproofing composition 101 housed in a first container, the nailgrowth-promoting composition 101 including: butyl acetate, ethylacetate, denatonium benzoate, nitrocellulose, n-butyl alcohol, isopropylalcohol, and citric acid; a bitterness additive 102 housed in a secondcontainer, the bitterness additive 102 including: ethyl acetate anddenatonium benzoate; and a package 104 enclosing the first containerstoring the nail growth-promoting, waterproofing composition 101 and thesecond container storing the bitterness additive 102.

In some exemplary embodiments, as will be discussed with reference tothe next figure in turn, the first container may include a brushapplicator to facilitate applying the nail growth-promoting,waterproofing composition 101 onto a user's nails.

Turning now to the next figure, FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view ofa first composition container, including a brush applicator, inaccordance with exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Morespecifically, FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of container 105that may include the nail growth-promoting composition 101, container105 typically a glass container or the like. In this embodiment,container 105 includes a brush applicator 106 as mentioned above forfacilitating application of the nail growth-promoting, waterproofingcomposition 101 to the user's fingernails.

Next, FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a dropper 103 that may beused to add drops or small amounts of the bitterness additive 102 to thebase solution 101 in order to customize a treatment, in accordance withexemplary embodiments of the present invention. More specifically, FIG.3 illustrates a perspective view of a dropper 103 that may be used toadd drops or small amounts of the bitterness additive 102 into thecontainer 105 (that is, into the base solution 101). As will bediscussed further below, this allows a user to customize the bitternessof their treatment.

Now turning to FIG. 4 , a table of ingredients for a first compositionincluded in a kit is shown, according to some exemplary embodiments ofthe present invention. More specifically, FIG. 4 depicts Table 400disclosing a list of ingredients for a nail growth-promotingwaterproofing composition 101 that may be used as a base to which thebitterness additive 102 (see Table 500 in FIG. 5 below) may be added asdiscussed in this disclosure.

As mentioned above, the primary ingredients of Butyl Acetate, EthylAcetate, Denatonium Benzoate, Nitrocellulose, N-Butyl alcohol, IsopropylAlcohol, and Citric Acid may be used to prepare the nailgrowth-promoting and waterproofing composition 101. As may beappreciated by a person of ordinary skill in the art, differentformulations or percentages of the primary ingredients may givedifferent user properties (i.e. stickiness, drying time, smell, coatingthickness, shine, and/or pliability), some of which will be discussed inturn.

In some exemplary embodiments, the nail growth-promoting waterproofingcomposition 101 may include the following concentrations of the butylacetate, the ethyl acetate, the denatonium benzoate, the nitrocellulose,the n-butyl alcohol, the isopropyl alcohol, and the citric acid: between26%-37% butyl acetate, between 23%-32% ethyl acetate, between10.2%-20.2% denatonium benzoate, between 10%-20% nitrocellulose, between3.8%-9.8% n-butyl alcohol, between 2.5%-4.5% isopropyl alcohol, andbetween 0.39%-0.69% citric acid.

In some exemplary embodiments, the nail growth-promoting, waterproofingcomposition 101 may include the following concentrations of the butylacetate, the ethyl acetate, the denatonium benzoate, the nitrocellulose,the n-butyl alcohol, the isopropyl alcohol, and the citric acid: 31% ofthe butyl acetate, 28% of the ethyl acetate, 15.2% of the denatoniumbenzoate, 15% of the nitrocellulose, 6.8% of the n-butyl alcohol, 3.5%of the isopropyl alcohol, and 0.5% of the citric acid. It has beendiscovered that this formulation may provide the lowest detectablesmell, the fastest drying, the most translucent, the highest shine, andan adequate baseline bitterness level for many users.

The next figure, FIG. 5 , illustrates a table of ingredients for asecond composition included in a kit according to some exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 5 depictsTable 500 disclosing a list of ingredients for a bitterness additive 102in accordance with the present invention, from which drops may be takento add to a nail growth-promoting, waterproofing composition 101 so thata user may customize a bitterness level suitable for their bitternessthreshold, in order to maximize the effectiveness of their customizedtreatment.

As mentioned above, the ingredients of Ethyl Acetate and DenatoniumBenzoate may make up the bitterness additive 102 in accordance with thepresent invention. In addition, Ethyl Acetate is highly flammable andtoxic when ingested, and can cause irritation when it comes into contactwith the eyes or skin. Accordingly, the levels of Ethyl Acetate andDenatonium Benzoate included in the bitterness additive 102 must bespecifically designed to maximize the bitterness concentration of theadditive 102 while minimizing the solution's flammability and toxicitydangers. In some exemplary embodiments, the bitterness additive 102 mayinclude the following concentrations of the ethyl acetate and thedenatonium benzoate that may optimize the additive's bitternessconcentration while minimizing the potential danger of the additive 102due to its potential flammability and toxicity: 80% of the ethylacetate, and 20% of the denatonium benzoate. In some exemplaryembodiments, the concentrations for these ingredients may range between70%-90% for the Ethyl Acetate, and between 10%-30% for the denatoniumbenzoate. In some exemplary embodiments, the concentrations for theseingredients may range between 75%-85% of the ethyl acetate, and between15%-25% for the denatonium benzoate.

It should be noted that the levels of Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetateand/or Citris Acid in the base solution 101 as described above arespecifically designed to allow the base solution 101 to receive andaccommodate the additional Ethyl Acetate and additional DenatoniumBenzoate from the additive solution 102 while preserving the desiredattributes and characteristics of the overall combined solution. Forexample, the levels of Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate and/or Citric Acidin the base solution 101 may be designed to help to ensure that thecombined solution continue to be low in odor, to be fast drying and toremain sufficiently clear even while the levels of Ethyl Acetate andDenatonium Benzoate are increased with the addition of the bitternessadditive 102.

In creating a kit for consumers, the compositions or solutions 101, 102mentioned above may be packaged as shown in FIG. 1 so as to provide theuser with everything they may need to customize their treatment.Accordingly, a method of preparing a customizable nail-biting and/orfinger sucking treatment kit, in accordance with exemplary embodimentsof the present invention, may include the steps of: preparing a nailgrowth-promoting, waterproofing composition by combining between 26%-37%butyl acetate, between 23%-32% ethyl acetate, between 10.2%-20.2%denatonium benzoate, between 10%-20% nitrocellulose, between 3.8%-9.8%n-butyl alcohol, between 2.5%-4.5% isopropyl alcohol, and between0.39%-0.69% citric acid; storing the nail growth-promoting compositionin a first container, the first container having a brush applicator;preparing a bitterness additive by combining between 70%-90% ethylacetate, and between 10%-30% denatonium benzoate; storing the bitternessadditive in a second container; packaging the first container includingthe nail growth-promoting, waterproofing composition and the secondcontainer including the bitterness additive in a single package.

In some exemplary embodiments, preparing the nail growth-promoting,waterproofing composition 101 may comprise combining 28% of the ethylacetate, and 15.2% of the denatonium benzoate. This may provide abaseline bitterness level of the base solution 101. In some exemplaryembodiments, preparing the bitterness additive 102 may comprisecombining 80% of the ethyl acetate, and 20% of the denatonium benzoateto optimize the additive's bitterness concentration while minimizing itsflammability and/or toxicity.

In some exemplary embodiments, packaging the composition 101 andadditive 102 may further comprise including a dropper 103, configured todraw at least a drop of the bitterness additive 102 from the secondcontainer to be added to the base solution 101 in the first container.

The next figure, FIG. 6 , illustrates a flow chart depicting a method ofcustomizing a treatment in accordance with practice of some exemplaryembodiments of the present invention. More specifically, FIG. 6 depictsmethod 600 for customizing a treatment. Although method 600 isexemplarily shown with a series of steps in one particular sequence,method 600 may include fewer or more steps in alternative sequenceswithout deviating from the scope of the present invention. As will bedescribed in greater detail below, method 600 of customizing a treatmentmay include steps 601-605. Prior to performing steps 601-605, it isunderstood that the user may have tested the baseline bitterness levelof the base solution 101 and may have determined that the baselinebitterness level may be too low, and that customization may be required.

In step 601, a user may open a cap of a first container storing a nailgrowth-promoting, waterproofing composition and place the cap aside. Inthis step, the user may ensure that there is adequate room in thecontainer for additional liquid. In practice of some exemplaryembodiments, the user may be required (and or instructed) to dip a brushapplicator into the container, and then brush some the compositionliquid on a paper towel a few times to remove the liquid from thecontainer in order to make room for the additional bitter additive.

In step 602, with the container having the composition near full, a usermay add 1 or 2 drops of the bitter additive into the neck of thecontainer. If less than a full container, a user may be required (and orinstructed) to add 1 drop at a time.

In step 603, the user may simply replace the container's cap and agitatethe container, or otherwise shake the same vigorously for 5-10 seconds.

In step 603, the user may apply a coat of the mixture onto a surface ofhis/her fingernail to test it. After the solution may dry, the user maytaste the dried composition to confirm that the newly increasedbitterness level meets their threshold so as to be a deterrent to theirhabitual nail-biting and/or finger sucking ailment.

If necessary, in step 605, steps 601-604 may be repeated as necessary toagain increase the level of bitterness. Once the proper bitternessthreshold is reached, the user may begin using the customized formula tobegin their custom treatment. Care needs to be taken as to provide aproper bitter disincentive for nail-biting and finger sucking. Forexample, too much bitterness, and the polish can overwhelm the biter,make eating difficult, or make him/her sick to the stomach, which maycause the user to remove the composition and thus end treatment. Inanother example, inadequate levels of bitterness may not deter the userfrom biting his/her nails and/or sucking his/her fingers. In this way,the customizable treatment kit 100 may allow for the user to optimizethe bitterness for his/her specific bitterness threshold.

Referring back to step 602, a user may add one or more drops of theadditive solution 102 to the base solution 101 in order to increase thebase solution's level of bitterness. In one example of this, one drop ofthe additive solution 102 may include approximately 0.05 ml of theliquid solution. Using the concentration numbers described above, if theadditive solution 102 contains 20% denatonium benzoate, then one dropmay contain 20% of 0.05 ml or 0.01 ml of denatonium benzoate. Inaddition, in one example, the bottle 105 may contain approximately 15 mlof total base solution 101. If the baseline solution includes 15.2% ofdenatonium benzoate, then the baseline solution 101 may includeapproximately 15.2% of 15 ml or 2.28 ml of denatonium benzoate. Thus,adding one drop or 0.01 ml of denatonium benzoate to the base solution101 may increase the total amount of denatonium benzoate from 2.28 ml to2.29 ml or by approximately 0.4%. And because denatonium benzoate may beextremely bitter, this added percentage may effectively increase theoverall bitterness level of the combined solution. Note however thatmultiple drops of the additive 102 may need to be added to the basesolution 101 to achieve the desired level of bitterness.

Turning now to the last figure, FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chartdepicting a method of applying a customized treatment in accordance withpractice of some exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Morespecifically, FIG. 7 depicts method 700 for applying a customizedtreatment. Although method 700 is exemplarily shown with a series ofsteps in one particular sequence, method 700 may include fewer or moresteps in alternative sequences without deviating from the scope of thepresent invention. As will be described in greater detail below, method700 for applying a customized treatment may include steps 701-705.

In step 701, a user may apply one coat of the base solution 101 and/orthe customized treatment they have previously tested and prepared (e.g.,by following steps 601-605). In this step, a user preferably applies thecoat of the customized treatment to clean, dry nails either alone orover polish and allow it to dry completely. In exemplary embodiments,this is performed twice a week. For stubborn or “high tolerance” biters,this application may be performed more frequently as needed or evendaily. There is no limit to composition application per se, andrepetitive applications may depend on the customized, individualcomposition and the strength of the user's urge to bite.

Accordingly, in step 702, a user should re-apply within the week of thefirst application, and similarly and preferably applying the coat of thecustomized treatment to clean, dry nails allowing it to dry completely.

In some exemplary embodiments, a step 703 may be implemented, in whichapplication of a nail hardener may be employed. Note that the step 703may also be performed prior to starting steps 701-705 (that is, a nailhardener may be applied first). Accordingly, in some kits in accordancewith the present invention, a nail hardener may be included, for examplealong with the other contents in or with package 104 as shown in FIG. 1.

In step 704, the process or steps 701-703 above may be repeated asnecessary, until the afflicted user has successfully broken the habit ofbiting their nails. Upon initial application, the bitter taste will bemost intense, but washing the user's nails with soap and water mayreduce the bitterness slightly.

If no longer required, or simply desiring to remove the customizedmixture, at step 705, or at any time, a user may remove the customizedmixture with commercially available nail polish remover. Accordingly, insome kits in accordance with the present invention, a nail polishremover may be included, for example along with the other contents in orwith package 104 as shown in FIG. 1 .

It is understood that a combination of the steps 601-605 and the steps701-705 may be performed at any time. For example, after performing someor all of the steps 701-705, the user may decide that their bitternesslevel is inadequate, and he/she may choose to further customize thebitterness level of their treatment solution by repeating steps 601-605or any portion thereof.

In another exemplary embodiment hereof, the base solution 101 mayinclude a lesser amount of denatonium benzoate in order to provide aless bitter baseline bitterness level. As stated in other sections,sensitivities to bitterness may vary greatly from person to person, andin fact, some may have a very low tolerance for bitterness. In thiscase, it may be that the baseline bitterness level of the base solution101 as described above may be too bitter for the person with a lowtolerance to bitterness. This may cause problems with eating, upsetstomachs and even vomiting. Accordingly, for persons with low bitternesstolerance, it may be preferable that the baseline bitterness level ofthe base solution 101 be less so that he/she may start the process oftesting and customizing the treatment solution at an initially lowerbitterness level.

For example, in some exemplary embodiments hereof, the level ofdenatonium benzoate may be three-quarters (e.g., 7.65%-15.15%), one-half(e.g., 5.1%-10.1%), one-quarter (e.g., 2.55-5.05%), or any other amountlower than the level of denatonium benzoate described in priorembodiments. In this way, the user may start with a base solution 101with a very low level of bitterness and subsequently add the bitteradditive 102 to increase the level to their desired level. Note that thebitterness level arrived at after adding the additive 102 may be belowor above the bitterness baseline level of the base solution 101 in otherembodiments.

In another exemplary embodiment hereof, the base solution 101 maycontain no denatonium benzoate such that the baseline bitterness levelmay approach zero. In this case, the user may simply begin the processby adding small amounts of the bitterness additive 102 to the basesolution 101, testing the results, and repeating the process until thedesired level of bitterness is achieved. This may ensure that a personwith a very low tolerance to bitterness may be enabled to successfullycustomize a treatment solution by creating a solution that may have avery low, yet still sufficient, level of bitterness.

The benefits of the nail-biting and/or finger sucking treatment kit 100,the base solution 101 and the bitterness additive solution 102 aremultifold, and may include, without limitation, the following benefits.

First, the treatment kit 100 enables persons with a high tolerance forbitterness to customize their treatment solution by increasing thesolution's bitterness level. As described, this may be accomplished byadding one or more drops of the bitterness additive 102 to the basesolution 101.

Second, the treatment kit 100 enables persons with a low tolerance forbitterness to start with a lower level of bitterness and graduallyincrease the bitterness level of their solution until the level meetstheir needs. As described, this may be accomplished by beginning with abase solution 101 that includes a low baseline bitterness level andadding one or more drops of the bitter additive 102 to the base solution101.

Third, the bitterness additive 102 may be specifically designed tooptimize its bitterness concentration while minimizing the dangersassociated with the flammability and toxicity of the active EthylAcetate ingredient.

Fourth, the base solution may include ingredients in specificallydesigned concentrations and/or ranges that will allow the base solution101 to receive amounts of the bitterness additive 102 while preservingthe solution's desired characteristics (e.g., low odor, fast drying,sufficiently clear, etc.).

It is clear that the benefits described above may enable a person whowould otherwise be unsuccessful in treating their nail biting and/orfinger sucking affliction when using a standard solution treatment toinstead be successful in treating his/her affliction by using thecustomized treatment solution.

It is understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art, upon readingthis specification, that any of the elements or details of any of theembodiments described herein or otherwise may be combined in any way,and that the scope of the invention includes any combinations of anyelements or details of any of the embodiments hereof.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe nail-biting and/or finger sucking solution, including a kit, devicesand/or processes, by the use of diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples.The subject matter described herein sometimes illustrates differentcompositions or variations thereof. It is to be understood that suchdepicted options are merely exemplary, and that in fact many othervariations may be implemented which achieve the same functionality. Withrespect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular termsherein, those having skill in the art may translate from the plural tothe singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate tothe context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutationsmay be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

A method for providing a customizable nail-biting and/or finger suckingprevention treatment, and kit for providing a nail-biting and/or fingersucking treatment has been described. The foregoing description of thevarious exemplary embodiments of the invention has been presented forthe purposes of illustration and disclosure. It is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Manymodifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachingwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A customizable nail-biting treatment and fingersucking kit, comprising: a nail growth-promoting, waterproofingcomposition housed in a first container, the nail growth-promoting,waterproofing composition including: 31% butyl acetate, 28% ethylacetate, 15.2% denatonium benzoate, 15% nitrocellulose, 6.8% n-butylalcohol, 3.5% isopropyl alcohol, and 0.5% citric acid; a bitternessadditive housed in a second container, the bitterness additiveincluding: ethyl acetate and denatonium benzoate; and a packageenclosing the first container and the second container.
 2. Thecustomizable nail-biting and finger sucking treatment kit of claim 1,wherein the bitterness additive includes the following concentrations ofthe ethyl acetate and the denatonium benzoate: 80% of the ethyl acetate,and 20% of the denatonium benzoate.
 3. The customizable nail-bitingtreatment and finger sucking treatment kit of claim 1, wherein thebitterness additive includes the following concentrations of the ethylacetate and the denatonium benzoate: between 75%-85% of the ethylacetate, and between 15%-25% of the denatonium benzoate.
 4. Thecustomizable nail-biting treatment and finger sucking treatment kit ofclaim 1, further comprising a dropper configured to draw at least a dropfrom the second container, the dropper enclosed in the package alongwith the first and second containers.
 5. The customizable nail-bitingtreatment kit of claim 1, wherein the first container comprises a brushapplicator.